Local Parks Grant Program
Deadline: June 14th, 2024
Amount: Min $15,000, max $250,000 in grant awards for the Planning and Development track, and $2,500,000 in grant awards for Implementation Grant track
Match: Not required, but recommended for implementation grants
Eligibility: 501(c)3 organizations, California Native American Tribes, Native 7871 Organizations, Land Trusts, Fiscally Sponsored Community Organizations, Foundations, and Local Government Agencies (City, County, Regional).
Local parks include land that is owned or managed by a local city, county, park or community service district, land trusts, regional park or open space district, non-profit organization or foundation, or any other entity other than federal and state agencies. Both indoor and outdoor spaces can be considered.
https://artsincaliforniaparks.org/local-parks-grant-program/
This new multi-year grant program intends to create local community connections to California’s rich and diverse cultural history and natural areas outside of California’s state park boundaries. Eligible projects will enhance connections to local cultural history, local parks, open space or natural areas through community events, programming or installations that help to build sustainable community connections, health and well-being. The Local Parks Grants Program will be managed and administered by Parks California.
This program supports the “Outdoor Access for All” initiative led by Governor Gavin Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, along with the Natural Resources Agency’s “Outdoors for All” initiative, and California State Parks’ Reexamining Our Past Initiative.
DTSC: Equitable Community Revitalization Grant (ECRG)
Deadline: October 2024 (est.)
Amount: $85 million available
Match: TBD
Link: https://dtsc.ca.gov/ecrg/
Purpose: The program gives California communities an unprecedented opportunity to address historic environmental injustices and set a new path for land use that will have immediate and lasting benefits, such as recreational uses (parks and other green spaces), commercial enterprises and housing.
1. Community-wide Assessment Grant ($350k*): First steps or early stages to learn about environmental conditions of at least three sites in a defined area where reuse is being planned. Activities may include Phase I Environmental Site Assessments, Phase II Environmental Site Assessments or Preliminary Endangerment Assessments, and may also include community engagement for sites being assessed/investigated. In addition to assessment or investigation, activities may also include developing an inventory of
brownfield sites, including GIS mapping, and other activities that will facilitate reuse planning.
*Funding: Fixed amount of $350,000, which may include up to $50,000 for CWA related activities conducted by grantee, such as community engagement.
2. Site-specific Investigation Grant ($150k to $7M): and/or cleanup planning at a specific site that is slated for reuse. Work includes All Appropriate Inquiries (AAI) or Phase I Environmental Site Assessments, Phase II Environmental Site Assessments, Preliminary Endangerment Assessments (PEA), supplemental or other necessary site investigations, health and ecological risk assessments, work to evaluate different cleanup methods, pilot tests to assess a potential remedial technology, and preparation of a cleanup plan.
3. Site-specific Cleanup Grant ($300k to $10M): This includes planning, implementation and reporting costs for the cleanup, pilot tests and sampling/analysis to design the cleanup, public engagement and cleanup-related California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) activities. A regulatory-approved cleanup plan is highly recommended for a Site-specific Cleanup Application.
California Department of Parks and Recreation: Outdoor Equity Grant Program (Round 2)
Due: December 2024 (est.)
Match: No.
https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=30443
The Outdoor Equity Grants Program (OEP) will increase the ability of residents in low income urban and rural communities to participate in outdoor experiences at state parks and other public lands. OEP grants will improve the health and wellness of Californians by connecting underserved communities to natural areas throughout California.
By Spring 2023, a draft Application Guide for Round Two will be posted here for public review and comment. The Round Two application deadline will be announced after the Application Guide goes through a public review and comment period.
Cal Parks: Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program (ORLP) Deadline: January 2025
Amount: Maximum: $15 million per application, Minimum: $300,000 per application Match: 50%
Eligibility: Cities, Counties, State agencies, Federally recognized Native American Tribes Joint Powers Authorities where all members are otherwise eligible under LWCF. Park districts, and special districts with authority to acquire, operate and maintain public park and recreation areas
https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=30578
ORLP focuses on communities with little to no access to publicly available outdoor recreation opportunities. ORLP funds the acquisition and/or development of new parks, or substantial renovations to parks in economically disadvantaged cities or towns of at least 30,000 people.
● Projects must be located in incorporated cities and towns with at least 30,000 people. ● Projects must be located within a Census tract that is determined to be disadvantaged per the Climate and Environmental Justice Screening Tool at
https://screeningtool.geoplatform.gov.
● Projects must involve land acquisition or development for outdoor recreation.
● Projects must be outdoor recreation areas and facilities open to the general public and not limited to special groups.
● Projects cannot be within a park/site that has LWCF or ORLP grant funding within the last seven years.
California Department of Parks and Recreation: Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF)
Deadline: June 1, 2025
Amount: Up to $6 million
Match: Yes - 50%
Eligibility: Cities, counties, tribal governments, JPAs, park districts, and special districts with authority to acquire, operate and maintain public park and recreation areas https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=21360
Project must be acquisition or development, combination projects are not eligible. Development of recreation features must be for outdoor recreation, not indoor recreation. See the list of recreation features in the application guide.
California Department of Parks and Recreation: Recreational Trails Program Deadline: July, 2025
Amount: Up to $1.56 million
Match: Yes - 12%
Eligibility: Cities, counties, districts, state agencies, federal agencies and nonprofits with management responsibilities of public lands
https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=24324
The non-motorized RTP funds recreation trail projects for pedestrians, bicyclists, and equestrians that may also serve as non-motorized transportation corridors.
California Department of Parks and Recreation: Habitat Conservation Fund Deadline: June 15, 2025
Match: Yes - 1:1
https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=21361
Purpose: Nature interpretation programs to bring urban residents into park and wildlife areas, protection of various plant and animal species, and acquisition and development of wildlife corridors and trails.